X-bar for automobile frames



May 9, 1939. D, w. SHERMAN X-BAR FOR AUTOMOBILE FRAMES Filed Oct. 50. 1936 Donald WSherman ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1939 2,157,353

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE X-BAR FOR AUTOMOBILE FRAMES Donald W. Sherman, Shorewood, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1936, Serial No. 108,322

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-106) This invention relates to an X-bar for auto- I2 and I3 form a welding dam and chill for the mobile frames. deposit of weld metal at the meeting edges of The object of the invention is to provide an the flanges. The welding is preferably done by X-bar having its respective arms butt welded the arc welding process employing a fusible together at the center, making a unitary strucmetallic electrode to deposit weld metal at the 5 ture in effect constituted of a single piece of joint and to fuse the same with the metal of the metal. flanges and of the respective reenforcing plates Another object is to provide such an X-bar I2 and I3. of simple design that is of economical con- The reenforcing plates are held in place durw struction. ing welding by downwardly bent flanges I4 there- 10 Other objects will appear hereinafter. on at the opposite corners which are supported The accompanying drawing illustrates an emon the flanges II of the vertical webs of the bodiment of the invention and the views therechannels, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. of are as follows: The vertical webs 9 of the opposite pairs of Figure l is a perspective View of an automobile arms meet at the center line of the X-bar and frame having an X-bar made from channel are welded together at I5, as shown in Figs. 2

sections; and 3.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the Various embodiments of the invention may be central portion of the X-bar looking downward made within the scope of the claims. 50 in Fig. 1; The invention is claimed as follows: 20

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 l. In an automobile frame, an X-bar the arms of Fig. l; of which have vertical webs and upper and lower Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 horizontal flanges, said flanges having their of Fig. l; and inner ends cut at an angle and meeting to pro- 55 Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the inner end of vide a butt welded joint therebetween forming 25 a channel arm of the X member. a single unitary structure, said vertical webs The invention is illustrated as utilizing chanbeing cut out at their meeting ends to provide nel section construction for the arms of the a longitudinal opening through the centerof X-ba1 said X-bar, and being welded together at their :o Referring to the drawing, the arms of the X- meeting end edges above and below said opening, bar are made up of four channel members I, 2, and the arms of said X-bar being in substantial 3 and 4. These arms are arranged diagonally in alignment across the center joint to provide for the general form of an X and the forward arms the transmission of stress from one arm directly I and 2 extend forwardly and outwardly' and to the one diagonally opposite. have their outer ends secured to the respective 2. In an automobile frame, an X-bar comprisside rails 5 and 6 of the frame while the rearing a plurality ofchannel section arms meeting ward arms 3 and 4 extend rearwardly and outat a common center and having their correwardly and have their outer ends secured to the sponding horizontal flanges butt welded torespective side rails 5 and 6 of the frame. gether at the center forming a unitary structure l() The arms of the X-bar meet at a common cenand their corresponding vertical webs cut out at ter and are there welded together into an intheir meeting ends to provide a longitudinal tegral structure. For this purpose the upper and opening through the center of said X-bar, and a lower flanges of the arms are cut to a point reenforcing plate for the upper flanges at the as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that after assembly center, and another for the lower flanges, said they provide the longitudinal central weld seams reenforcing plates serving as welding dams and I and the transverse central weld seams 8. chills during welding of said flanges together and The vertical webs 9 of the arms are cut away being welded in the joint therewith, and said at the inner end to provide an opening I 0 for arms being in substantial alignment across the the drive shaft of the automobile. The edges of center joint to provide for the transmission of ,0 the webs 9 at the opening I0 are flanged at I I stress from one arm directly to the one diagonally 50 for strengthening purposes. opposite.

A reenforcing plate I2 is provided for the top 3. In an automobile frame, an X-bar comprisflanges and another plate I3 for the lower ing a plurality of channel section arms meeting flanges, and they are welded integral with the at a common center and having their correspondflanges at seams l and 8. The reenforcing plates ing horizontal flanges butt welded together at the center forming a unitary structure, a reenforcing plate for the upper flanges at the center, and another for the lower flanges, said reenforcing plates serving as welding dams and chills during welding of said flanges together and being welded in the joint therewith, and means integral with said Vertical webs for supporting said reenforcing plates against said flanges during Welding.

4. In an automobile frame, an X-bar comprising a plurality of channel section arms positioned to meet at a common center, having their corresponding horizontal flanges and opposite adjacent vertical Webs butt welded at their respective meeting end edges, the vertical Webs being out away at their meeting ends to provide a longitudinal opening through the center of said X-bar, and reinforcing plates for said flanges, serving as welding dams and chills during the welding of said flanges together and being Welded to said anges by the same Welds that join the anges together.

DONALD W. SHERMAN. 

